[polarstar]

Hi everyone.
So, I have a problem with a fear of fainting in public. It does not happen very often but it does happen and I have trouble explaining it to whomever is with me at the time. It is usually if I am in a lunch line or if I feel like there is nowhere to sit down. My palms become sweaty, my heartbeat becomes very quick, I feel like I cannot breath. I manage to keep it to myself and most people do not even notice it. It started with me fainting when I was fourteen and ever since I feel like I have been developing one strange fear after another. I thought I was claustrophobic for a while, then I decided I was more of an agoraphobic. I am also quite a hypochondriac. If I have stomach aches I immediately run to my doctor to have an ultrasound. I do not think I am an overly extreme case-I still manage for these things not to have a more significant impact on my life. I go out, have fun and when it happens-I just try to make it go away by thinking happy thoughts. But it bothers me-especially now when I am on crutches and feel extra vulnerable to my fear of fainting. It is the idea of public embarrassment that bothers me most. I know people would help if I were to faint but the idea of everybodys attention on me makes me very uncomfortable. Any others like me out there? How to fight it?
Thank you in advance

[Leed]

Hi ~ Yes, I suffered with that for quite some time. It would happen in the grocery store at the checkout ~ writing a check would for some reason upset me, and my heart would start pounding, it would start to get dark, and i thought I was going to faint many times. Then I'd push on my carotid artery (the one in the neck) and it would usually slow down the pulse, and that would help. But then my BF said something that made sense: he said "What's the worst that could happen?" So I thought about it, and the worst would be I would faint, and they'd call an ambulance and take me to the hospital. Big deal. That wasn't so bad. Afterall, it wasn't going to KILL me. LOL So after that, my attacks weren't so severe, cause I'd think of what he said. Then pretty soon, they stopped altogether!! I rarely have one now -- and if I do, I can control it.

The worst thing that can happen really isn't that bad. I'd never thought of that before. The attack always scared me so much that I never really thought it out. So now it doesn't bother me anymore. God bless. Hugs, Lee

[Chefguy]

Good advice Leed!